When does a DIY project become a DI-Why project?
Usually, it’s the moment you realize you have made a mistake that is going to be costly and potentially dangerous!
When To DIY
Fixing up your house into a family home can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do, especially for young couples.
The sheer joy of learning new skills, getting to pick your own paint colors, building the things that you want to build is an exciting time.
There are a huge number of projects that many people can tackle with relatively few DIY skills.
Projects like putting up a shelf, painting walls, hanging wallpaper, even fitting a carpet can be easy tasks.
There’s a huge number of YouTube channels dedicated to showing amateurs and new homeowners how to do the simple tasks and, with a little time investment and the right tools, you can really make a difference to your home without spending lots of money on professional tradesmen.
When Not To DIY
While many Americans love a spot of DIY all year round, there are a few projects that you really shouldn’t be tackling yourself; instead, you should get professional help.
For some of the projects listed below, you will be able to make a start on yourself, but for tasks that are a little move involved, you do need to consult a professional in the field.
You either need to have your work certified by them if you have experience or have them complete the work instead.
When it comes to safety, never put yourself in danger as you try to do something.
It is better to leave it to the professionals.
With the safety announcements over, here are eight projects that you really should get a professional tradesman in to do for you.
Roofing
This one is as plain as the nose on your face.
Roofing is dangerous, and any roofing tasks should be undertaken by a professional such as the experts over at Signature Roofing, not yourself.
Professional roofers have the right equipment (scaffolding, ladders, etc.) and know exactly what they are looking for.
It may look simple enough to replace a broken tile or fix some loose felting, but it’s the actual logistics of the tasks that make it dangerous to undertake.
Get in touch with a professional roofing company near you and get a quote. You’ll be pleased you did.
Removing Old Insulation
Physically, removing old insulation and replacing it with new insulation is quite simple to do, but old insulation can be made with some not-so-pleasant materials.
Fiberglass and even asbestos may be present depending on how old the insulation is, and these can be really harmful if you breathe them in.
Get a professional in to take a look and advise you. If in doubt, ask them to do the job.
Pest Control
Pets are, unfortunately, something most of us have to live with in some way or another.
Mice and other small rodents are notoriously difficult to eradicate.
As a homeowner, simple pest control like mouse traps can be laid yourself as long as they are safely away from pets, children, and other wildlife, but if you have a serious pest problem like a rat infestation or termites, you will need to get a professional in to deal with them.
Modifying Electrical Systems
Electrics can be really dangerous if not treated with the proper caution they deserve.
While many homeowners can do simple things like fitting a new light switch and even a new light fitting, anything more advanced like whole-house rewiring should be left to a professional.
Depending on your state’s laws, you may also need to get any work you complete yourself certified by an electrician.
Repairs To Your HVAC
If you have any kind of heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system, you’ll need to get a professional to repair it and check it over.
There are some nasty diseases that can live in air conditioning systems, and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from an improperly fitted boiler may prove fatal.
Fencing
This is another one of those tasks that you could complete if it was just a small fence, but if it’s a full boundary fence or an electrified fence, you’ll need to get a professional to fit it.
Some larger fences need foundations and set correctly, and at the very least, this requires two people.
Demolishing Walls
Removing simple drywall may be an easy enough task for you to complete in a weekend, but if you’re looking to demolish a brick wall, you’ll need to get a builder in to make sure you can remove the wall.
Sometimes the most innocent-looking wall is actually a structurally integral wall, and removing something that important without the expert guidance of a qualified builder could mean your house is unsafe, and worst-case scenario, you may end up knocking more than just your house down.
Get in a qualified builder to take a look at the demolition you are planning to do and ensure that it’s safe.
If you are dead set on removing the wall, you’ll need to consult your builder anyway to decide what you’re going to replace it with.
Historic Building Restoration
Here in the US, we have very few buildings that are really ancient, with our oldest buildings dating only as far back as the 1600s, but if you are taking on a renovation project to restore an older building or a building of historical importance, you must consult a professional.
There are many professionals that can help with historical building renovations, including building surveyors who will be able to complete a structural survey to help you decide which parts are safe, which parts need restoring and which bits need replacing.
You may also wish to contact historians and archeologists to go through your restoration project.
In fact, contacting archeologists may even be a requirement in your state, depending on the age of the building, to ensure that your renovation project isn’t going to disturb any important archeological evidence and anything of important historical value.